With the Blade

Jiankang City, Jinluan Hall.

The young emperor sat on the massive throne, which was originally established for a giant, making the emperor appear even smaller.

In contrast, the ministers below the throne appeared increasingly larger.

Undoubtedly, the tallest was the one standing at the front, the Sikong, though his stature was just average. However, when other ministers slightly lowered their bodies, this old minister became the tallest among them.

Like the leading sheep among the flock, the Sikong raised his head and looked at the young emperor on the throne.

"Your Majesty, regarding the relocation to the south..."

"This is my home, I’m not going anywhere."

Without waiting for the Sikong to finish his words, the young emperor directly refused.

"If you want to move, then go by yourself."

"... ..."

The Sikong found himself speechless on the spot.

This kind of thing is unreasonable; how could they possibly move on their own? If the emperor doesn’t move and they leave, wouldn’t they openly become deserters?

"But Your Majesty, the chaos of war is dangerous; what if it affects the palace..."

"Are you saying someone wants to cause trouble in my home?"

The young emperor frowned slightly.

"Whoever causes trouble, just kick them out, isn’t that enough? Why should I move myself? Wouldn’t that be giving my home to them?"

"This..."

The Sikong fell silent for a moment.

This emperor of theirs is truly... innocent.

Of course, to put it nicely, it could be called pure-minded. However, everyone actually understands what this term really implies — if someone comes to attack, just drive them away. Even a dog knows that. But the problem is, if they were really capable of winning, why would there be a need to relocate to the south?

Some things are very complicated, not something that can be accomplished just by saying it.

At least, it’s not something a five-year-old child can achieve by saying it.

"Your Majesty, my home is also in Jiankang."

In the face of the young emperor’s absurd response, the Sikong decided to try a different approach.

"My home is also in Jiankang. All the civil and military officials in the hall have their homes in Jiankang, but so what? If chaos breaks out, it will no longer be safe here. Continuing to stay here could lead to unspeakable outcomes..."

"What unspeakable outcomes could there possibly be?"

The young emperor shook his head.

"If someone comes attacking, just let the Grand Eunuch drive them away! The Grand Eunuch is amazing! Grand Eunuch, Grand Eunuch?"

"Your Majesty, this old servant is here."

An old eunuch, wrapping his fingers around a silk thread, stepped out from the shadow beside the throne, his eyes sweeping over the officials in front of him like knives.

Especially the notable Sikong at the front of the officials.

"Sikong, the emperor is young, and for you to make this grand display, it’s excessively disrespectful..."

Locking eyes, the old eunuch suddenly shouted.

"Are you attempting to force the emperor?"

"... Absolutely not."

Faced with the piercing murderous intent coming directly at him, the Sikong lowered his head after all.

The relocation plan once again ended without result, even though most officials had acknowledged this established fact, considering that as long as people remain, a new home could always be built. But if people are gone, then nothing matters anymore.

The reasoning was that reasoning, and everyone was reasonable. As long as the court relocates to the south, it would be good for everyone.

However, the emperor in front of them wasn’t someone they could reason with, and that skillful old eunuch even more so wouldn’t reason with them. If they truly forced the emperor to relocate southward, the old eunuch might just dare to kill in the Jinluan Hall.

"Outrageous!"

Back at his residence, the Sikong smashed three cups in a row, and being from a noble family, he had never suffered such disgrace in his life.

Being threatened by a eunuch... how dare that gutless thing!

"What do you think you are! What is your limited skill worth!"

With that thought, the Sikong smashed a fourth cup in anger.

If truly based on martial arts, the old eunuch wouldn’t have a place here; back when Jiankang City was filled with masters from every noble family, how could this old eunuch have had a voice?

Furthermore, with the eunuch’s limited martial arts, what could he achieve? Could he fend off the grassland tribes? Could he repel the armies? If he were truly loyal, where was this old eunuch when the previous emperor died? When that rebel dashed into the Jinluan Hall, where was he then?

A rebel can even be conferred as Grand Preceptor, which is simply a supreme disgrace to the court, and now he doesn’t mention forcing the emperor out? Doesn’t speak of rites anymore?

"Just know to bully the weak and fear the strong!"

The Sikong unconsciously clenched his fists.

Since the gentle approach doesn’t work, he had no choice but to use a tough one on this old thing.

Thinking this, the Sikong summoned his trusted advisors, instructing them to think of a way to find an opportunity to eliminate this old eunuch.

Clearly, this was not going to be an easy task. This old eunuch had served three emperors in succession, almost his entire life caring for the emperors’ daily affairs, and trying to kill him with poison or assassination was unlikely — to put it bluntly, the tricks this old eunuch had witnessed were probably more than the grains of rice those assassins had ever eaten in their lives.

"So, if we truly intend to get rid of this wicked eunuch, there’s actually only one method."

A strategist named Shen Yifang spoke up.

"Get skilled warriors, corner him, and slaughter him."

This strategy was extremely straightforward and brutish, basically amounting to nothing. Yet, paradoxically, it was the method with the highest likelihood of success.

Even the Sikong himself, after pondering for a while, had to admit that to eliminate the old eunuch, there seemed to be no other path.